Before the General Audience, Pope Francis greeted 2,500 pilgrims in the St. Peter's Basilica. They are from the Italian diocese where St. Padre Pio was born.
He recalled visiting this place in 2018 and how moved he was to be there. However, he also noted a essential characteristic of Padre Pio. This is that he lived during difficult times in the Church, but never destructively criticized it.
POPE FRANCIS
“He loved the Church, he did not destroy it with his tongue, as is fashionable today. “The one who loves the Church knows how to forgive, because he knows, that he himself is a sinner.” “One cannot live their whole life accusing, accusing, accusing the Church. Whose profession is it to accuse? Who is the 'great accuser' quoted in the Bible? I don't understand. I can't hear well. The devil. Those who spend their lives accusing, accusing, accusing, are I won't say children, because the devil doesn't have any, but friends, cousins, relatives of the devil, right? No. This is not right. Defects must be identified so that they can be corrected. When defects are pointed out, defects are denounced, the Church is loved. Without love, that is from the devil.”
After finishing his speech, the pope spent a few minutes personally greeting the pilgrims before setting off to Paul VI Audience Hall to commence his weekly catechesis.
